Arts Ahead

Ahh, art or money? It's something we ponder daily here at Londonist. (Can't we have both?) The big question is also being asked over at the Old Vic by none other than Kevin Spacey and his mate Jeff Goldblum in Mamet's Speed-the-Plow. We're also pondering how to get our hands on tickets for this sure-to-sell-out show. Previews run til Saturday; the show's booking until April.

Also Opening

Photography fans should pop along to the Deutsche Borse Photography Prize from Friday to see some fantastic, world-class images. Plus, being a competition, you can have heated discussions about who you think should win and why. (The winner's announced on 5 March, so get debating now.) Alternatively, there's an exhibition by Turner-nominee Peter Doig opening at Tate Britain today. Expect photo-inspired, dream-like images in crazy colours at unexpected angles.

If you're around Hay's Galleria this week (6pm-midnight on 7-14 Feb), be sure to check out the display by Hilson Moran, called Switched On London. It's all about the "importance of sustainable lighting design in the night-time urban environment" apparently.

Performing arts-wise,Matthew Bourne's Nutcracker! and Sweet William both open today. The ballet's at the New Wimbledon Theatre following its sell-out stint at Sadler's Wells. Sweet William sees actor Michael Pennington's interpretation of the life and work of Mr Shakespeare at Trafalgar Studios until 16 February.

Been missing the ice since London's festive rinks closed? Get your live skating fix at the ultimate cheese-fest, Romanza from Thursday. (ITV's Dancing on Ice has got a lot to answer for: Kyran Bracken for starters.) For some, this'll be an early Valentine's Day treat sorted.

Last chance:

Take a last, provocative look at the Black British experience in Kwame Kwei-Armah's Statement of Regret, before it closes on Wednesday. Or you've got a few more days to catch the results of the National Inventory Research Project at The National Gallery. The exhibition, Discoveries gives a real taste of the gorgeous art outside the big London galleries.

Look forward to:

Organised Londonists will be ignoring the cloudy skies and the fact that it's getting dark at 5pm, and planning to enjoy the long summer evenings when they come. Booking for the London's fantastic Open Air Theatre (we know, it's hard to imagine now) opens on Monday at 10am. Choose from Romeo & Juliet, Twelfth Night, Gigi, or A Midsummer Night's Dream for younger audiences. If only Valentine's Day could be rescheduled for sometime between June and September.